Humidity Quick Zap

[Kent Swafford]

On Friday, December 13, 2002, at 04:46  PM, Bigeartb@aol.com wrote:

>      I WANT TO FREE IT UP...SLICK IT UP...TUNE IT UP AND THEN WORRY 
> ABOUT THE DAMP CHASER LATER. I WANT IT 'FIXED NOW'. The question 
> is....is this possible and how?

Maybe this is too obvious, but you could repin the flanges, reaming the 
bushings slightly. When it's done, it's done, no waiting. It that isn't 
instant enough, here is what I wrote on CAUT some time back on this 
problem:


On 9/7/01 10:36 AM, "Avery Todd" <atodd@UH.EDU> wrote:

 > List,
 > > I'm sure most of you know about the flood and humidity problems
 > here in Houston. Because of what I assume are humidity related
 > problems, our newest 'D' (app. 3 yrs. old) is exhibiting some
 > excess friction in some of the hammer flanges and may also be
 > in the wippen flanges (I haven't checked that yet.)

These types of humidity problems may be exceptional in Houston, but 
they are
routine here in Kansas City. I have the "solution" for you: Protek.

This year in KC the weather has not been unusually severe, other than 
the
fact that the humidity has been up for months. The halls are measuring 
about
78% RH right now. This kind of humidity for months at a time will push 
some
flanges over the line, but I don't believe they are very far over that
"line".

The suggestion of using a Dampp-Chaser rod is probably good, given that 
I
think these flanges are just barely over the line.

Our #1 D had a bound up jack and a bound up underlever top flange two 
weeks
ago just as our Cliburn competition gold medalist was making his 
triumphant
return and giving his celebratory concerts. I hit the offending flanges 
with
Protek, worked the flanges a bit, and then they were fine. I have never 
had
a failure in years of doing this.

I would recommend against alcohol/water because of the possibility of
overdoing it and the fact that that takes some time to work. In my
experience Protek in a tight flange is not going to do any harm once the
humidity goes down; you will still have a very nice firm flange.

Kent Swafford